Fighting Covid, Kerala Way

The
first corona virus case in India was confirmed in Kerala on January 30 – a
medical student who came from Wuhan in China, the epicentre of the deadly disease.
The news sent shivers down the spine. But worse was yet to come. Almost a month
down the lane, Kerala was hit by the distressing news of three persons who had
landed from Italy testing positive for the virus, and so had two of their
elderly relatives. All hell was let loose in the next few days, making Kerala the
epicentre of Covid 19 in the country. It was at the top in the ‘Covid list’ of
States.

However,
it did not take too long for the State to turn the tables. As we pen this
piece, Kerala is writing a success story, emulated and applauded across the
globe, in containing the contagious disease. It has significantly improved its
position and is at 10th place among Corona-hit States, with around
400 cases and just 2 deaths. The State’s recovery rate of patients is five
times more than the national average. Its mortality rate is a mere 0.5 per cent
of the positive cases while the all-India rate is 3.5 per cent.

It
is neither a miracle nor a magic that is happening in Kerala. The State
followed the WHO-recommended plan of contact tracing, isolation and surveillance;
and it was done with precision. Route-maps of those with positive cases were
prepared; their movements were monitored; those who interacted with them were
isolated till the chain was complete. After the lockdown was announced, the
State went into overdrive, observing it in letter and spirit. ‘Social
distancing’ was not limited to orders on paper, it was seen on the ground.

There
are several reasons for the Covid 19 curve to flatten so fast in Kerala. The
experience in containing Nipah virus came in handy. Intense testing, tracing,
isolation and treatment have been the norm. Kerala has apparently the highest
test rate in the country. It helped in breaking the chain. The services of
health personnel cannot be under-estimated in this do or die fight. While
health workers get lip service and brickbats in many places, Kerala has
accorded the highest priority and respect to them. The letter of Resident Doctors
of Delhi’s AIIMS to Union Home Minister Amit Shah stating that ‘they are not
afraid of Corona virus but of assault by people’ should be an eye-opener in
this regard. Special training, protective gear and most importantly societal
support have contributed in keeping the morale of the health personnel high in
Kerala. Above all, the existing robust public health sector, which is in
shambles in many States, is the prime factor that helped Kerala take Corona
virus head on.

It
is important to point out yet another unprecedented crisis that emerged
simultaneously: lakhs of migrant workers who are staring at an uncertain future.
Many States grappled with it unceremoniously. But Kerala, with NGOs and people
chipping in, could instill confidence in them, ensuring their dignified stay in
the State.

Kerala’s
success story would make even the developed countries feel small. It should compel
some of the State governments to rework their strategy. It should make
politicians like Yogi Adityanath, the U.P. Chief Minister who advised Kerala to
learn from his State in managing health sector, to hang his head in shame. With
more support from the Centre, Kerala can be much more than a role model for
others.